Carlos Bernier
| Carlos Bernier | |
|---|---|
| Centerfielder/Rightfielder | |
| Born: January 28, 1927 Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico | |
| Died: April 6, 1989 (aged 62) Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 22, 1953, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 22, 1953, for the Pittsburgh Pirates | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .213 |
| Home runs | 3 |
| Runs batted in | 31 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
Carlos Eugene Bernier Rodríguez[1] (January 28, 1927 – April 6, 1989) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player who played one full season as an outfielder in Major League Baseball for the 1953 Pittsburgh Pirates. Born in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico, he threw and batted right-handed, stood 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg).
Career
Bernier's professional career extended for 17 seasons (1948–1964). Carlos Bernier is the all-time leaders in at bat in the LBPPR with 4,126 and led in stolen bases from 1949 to 1953 and in the 1955-56 season, to lead that stat with 286.[2] His 41 stolen bases in the 1949-50 season lasted as the record until 1980-81.[2] In the LBPPR Bernier is also first with 86 triples and second in hits (1,107) and runs (739).[2] On May 2, 1953, Bernier hit three triples in a game.[2] He was inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Pacific League Hall of Fame in 2004.[2]
In addition to the 105 games he played for the 1953 Pirates, he appeared in an even 2,200 games in minor league baseball, with 1,725 games played at the highest levels (Triple-A and the Open Classification) then in existence. Bernier batted .298 with nearly 2,300 hits and exactly 200 home runs as a minor leaguer.[3] In 1952, Bernier was named the PCL's Rookie of the Year by the Pacific Coast League Baseball Writers Association.[4]
For the 1953 Pirates, Bernier collected 66 hits, including seven doubles, eight triples, and three home runs, in 310 at bats. On May 2, Bernier tied a modern major league record with three triples in a game,[5] becoming the 15th player to perform this feat in the post-Deadball era, and the first since Ben Chapman in 1939,[6] as well the first National League player since Lance Richbourg in 1929.[5] In the Pacific League, Bernier had a .302 average and won the batting title in 1962 (.351).[2]
In 1989, Bernier committed suicide by hanging.[7] He was inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Pacific League Hall of Fame in 2004.[2]
See also
References
- ^ Biederman, Les. "The Scoreboard". The Pittsburgh Press. March 30, 1953. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g Muratti Nieves 2006, p. 68
- ^ Minor league statistics from Baseball Reference
- ^ UP. "Bernier Honored". The San Bernardino Sun. December 3, 1952. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
- ^ a b Biederman, Les. "Yippee! Pirates Win 4th Straight! Bucs Wallop Reds, 12-4; Bernier Stars; Carlos Clouts Three Straight Triples". The Pittsburgh Press. May 3, 1953. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
- ^ Triples Records at Baseball Almanac. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
- ^ Dolson, Frank. "Baseball: For Some, Retirement Is Too Tough". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 24, 1989. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
Sources
- Muratti Nieves, Daliana (2006). Chaguín Muratti: Un receptor del béisbol romántico puertorriqueño. Asociación de Periodistas de Puerto Rico. ISBN 1596082720.
Further reading
Articles
- Cane, Paul (United Press). "Sack-Stealing Carlos Breaks Tie for Stars". The Madera Tribune. June 4, 1952.
- UP. "Bernier Speeds to Top As PCL's Fastest Man". The Madera Tribune. July 24, 1952.
- UP. "Stars Tumbled 9-5 to Lose Ground to Oaks". The San Bernardino Sun. August 16, 1952.
- Cane, Paul (UP). "Base Larceny is Bernier's Career". The Madera Tribune. September 6, 1952.
- Biederman, Les. "The Scoreboard". The Pittsburgh Press. March 29, 1953.
- UP. "Major Record Tied: Bernier Hits 3 Triples". The San Bernardino Sun. May 3, 1953.
- Boyd, Jerry. "Boyd's Eye View". The San Bernardino Sun. May 5, 1964.
- UP. "Hardin, Bernier Bounced After Punch Exchange". The San Bernardino Sun. June 14, 1954.
- UP. "Bernier Handed Fine, Suspension". The San Bernardino Sun. June 15, 1954.
- UP. "Bernier Slugs Ump". The Madera Tribune. August 12, 1954.
- UP. "Bernier Banned". The San Bernardino Sun. August 13, 1954.
- "Hits Umpire, Negro Coast Star Banned for Season". Jet. August 26, 1954.
- Bragan, Bobby. "Bragan Likes Fiery Bernier". The Plattsburgh Press-Republican. February 1, 1955.
- UP. "Bernier Returns Pact, Will Go to Pittsburgh". The San Bernardino Sun. March 4, 1955.
- UP. "Bernier Reports to Stars, Promises To Be 'Good Boy'". The San Bernardino Sun. March 26, 1955.
- Hayes, Peter (UP). "Seal Coach Hits Home Run As S. F. Defeats Oakland". The Madera Tribune. April 28, 1955.
- "A Light for Mother". Jet. May 26, 1955.
- UP. "Stars Edge Angels. 2 to 1; Padres Move Seven Ahead". The San Bernardino Sun. June 8, 1955.
- UP. "Hollywood Captures PCl Lead: Stars Trim L.A. As Seattle Falls". The San Bernardino Sun. September 2, 1955.
- "At the Training Camps". The Desert Sun. March 28, 1956.
- Associated Press. "Hollywood Sets New Coast League Record of 9 Steals". The Plattsburgh Press-Republican. April 24, 1956.
- UP. "Twinks Drop Two". The San Bernardino Sun. August 29, 1956.
- Bouchette, Ed. "No Black and White Answers to Question". The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. May 15, 1987.
- Treder, Steve. "Carlos Bernier". Hardball Times. August 25, 2004.
- Guzzardi, Joe. "Carlos Bernier, more than a footnote". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 14, 2013.
- Totti, Xavier F. "The Case for Carlos Bernier: Baseball's Historic Omission". Centro Voices. February 5, 2016.
Books
- Van Hyning, Thomas V. (1995) Puerto Rico's Winter League: A History of Major League Baseball's Launching Pad. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company. p. 120. ISBN 0-7864-1970-9.
External links
- Career statistics from Baseball Reference · Retrosheet · Baseball Almanac